Condenser.



Dp i @runny-run ,fn-irma rfmvm ,t lei., mail tra li tane CGN'DENSER.

Application filed October 23, 1915.

' To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ERNST'VG. Hnnmnnn, a citlzen of the United States, residing at Youngstown, Mahoning county, Ohio, have invented a newnand useful improvement in Condensers, of whichthel following is a full, clearwand exact description, reference being had tog the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specificationn The figure is a view partly in side eleva*- `tion, and partly -in vertical section, and

largely diagrannnatic, showing my invention applied to one form of condenser.

My invention has relation to condensers, and is designed to increase the ei'iiciency of a icondenser.

More particularly, my invention is designed to provide means for improving the vacuum in a condenser, and is specially designed for use at such times as the cooling water available is relatively warm, as in summer time, or where the water has been previously heated to some extent.

it is well known that the eiciency ot a condenser depends largely upon the temperature-of the coolin water. Thus, .if the cooling water availa le is at a temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit and a twenty-five inch vacuum is maintained, this corresponds to a temperature of 134 degrees Fahrenheit. This gives only a maximum range of 14 ydeees Fahrenheit available for heat transler. If, however, the water is cooled to l5 degrees Fahrenheit, the range available for heat exchange is 59 degrees, or four and twotenths times as great; and the same result may be obtained by using 1000 allons ot water, as would be obtained oy t e use oft 4200 gallons at the higher temperature.

it is raotically impossible in the operation op large condensers to cool all`the water used, ,owing tothe large capacity of the cooling apparatus which would he required, and the expense of operatingn the same. My invention provides for the use of a relatively small secondary supply ci cooling water, which is either taken from some natural source, such as a well, in whichthe arti water is introduced into the condenser at a point between the main inlet for the cooling water and the air outtale, so that the water from the secondary inlet will, in falling', intercept the gases that have passed through specialization ci Letters temperature is relatively low; or which is cially cooled to a relatively low item-1 perature. This secondary supply of coolmg *T* .L v n? M..." s reiterated Nov, at, iaith.

serial no. sono?.

the main cooling water before such gases are drawn off by the air pump. This causes a further cooling and condensation or" the steam; and the air will then be drawn from the lower part of the condenser'toward/fthe air outtalre, until it hasa pressure correspending to the separate air pressure due to the lower temperature. lf the air pump keeps working at its ordinary speed, the vacuum will then rise at the upper portion of the condenser chamber; and as noA steam is now being drawn ed, the air will 'be' removed at a rapid rate. 4

Furthermore, hy injecting; the cooled secondary water at the top of the condenser in such a way as to cool the out-goingu gases, the volume of air is considerahiy reduced, due to the fact that the does not expand in proportion to the total pressure at the top of the condenser only, 1out in proportion to the separate air pressures, which is the total pressure, minus the steam pressure corre-- spending to the temperature the top ci" the condenser chamber. The steam pressure corresponding` to 120 degrees Fahrenheit is approximately 1.75 pounds, while the steam pressure corresponding to degrees Fahrenheit is only approximately .5 pounds Therefore the corresponding separate pressures, when gases v are withdrawn Aat 120 degrees and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively, are .75 pounds and 2 pounds. That is to say, in the first case any air that enters the condenser and is withdrawn by the air pump expands approximately twenty supply pipe; G is the usual exhaust connected.y

to a suitable pump; and 7 designates the iny ternal baffles in the chamber 2.

8 designates the secondary water supply connection above referred to, and which enters the chamber 2 at a point betweenthe main water supply and the exhaust conneo tion. above indicated, the secondary supdensers, one cooling tower el water @il above saidv g, water into the cooling tower, and ll is another pump for pumping the water from the base oi the cooling tower into the secondary supply pipe 3.

' As a tower for this purpose only has to y@ take car-e of a small fraction of the total cooling water, the expense oi its construction and operation is relatively small and but comparatively sznall space is required. ln plants where there -are a number oi3 conand two pumps will be sul'licient for several condensers.

My invention v'cry greatly improves the vacuum in the condenser since, as above indicated, it enables the gas and air which o@ have already been cooled to a temperature approzimatin that of the main cooling water, to be tier cooled and thus materially reduce the volume oi gas that must be withdrawn by the air pump. This also g5 tends to rapidly empty the condensing space of lair and thus increase the rate ci heat exchange between the cooling' water and the steam.

Il the eliectivc range of heat exchange for 3g the cooler water is, for instance, lfour times that of the main cooliixfr water one volume of the scconeary 'waiter is equal in heat eX- changeto lour volumes of the main cooling water. li? the secondary water is ol' this 35 relatively' lower temperature, and say onetenth that of the main supply in volume, it carries oil as much heat as would an increase in the main supply oi' four-tenths of its volume. also the cooler secondary does not carry more than one-tenth as much air into 'the condenser.

lilly improvement therefore makes it possible to maintain 5a goed Vacuum with hot cooling water without materially changing 45 the condenser, would be necessary il3 the supply of main cooling' water were suliiciently increased.

The invention may be applied to various types of jot and surface condensers.

l preferably provide the condenser with an equalizing connection l2 between its upper and lower portions, thus preventing any great dii-ference in the degree of vacuum atthose two portions.

l claim: l, fl countercurrent condenser having a steam. inlet, a` main cooling water-distributing system above the steam inlet, a. source of water supi therefor, suction otake weredistributing system. for removing air from the condenser, an auxiliary cooling water-distributing system between the main system and the suction oii'talre, the *er from the auxiliary system "5 commingling with the water from the main system above the steam inlet, and means for supplying water to the auxiliary system independently of the source of supply vfor the main system, substantially as described.

2. A countercurrent condenser having a steam inlet, a main cooling water-distribut- 'ing' system above the steam inlet, a source of water supply therefor, a suction olltake above said water-distributing system for removing the air from the condenser, an auxiliary cooling water-distributing system between the main system and the suction ofi"- take, the water from the auxiliary system commingling with the'water from the main system above the steam inlet, means for sup plying water to the auxiliary system inde'- pendently of the source ott' supply for the main water-distributing system., substan-A tially as described.

3. A countercurrent condenser having a steam inlet, a main cooling water-distributing system above the steam inlet, a source of water supply therefor, a suction ol'take above said water-distributing system for removing the air from the condenser, an auX- iliary cooling water-distributing system between the first mentioned system and the suction otalre, a well below said condenser, a tail-pipe leading from the condenser to the well, a cooling tower, means for passing water from the well to the cooling tower, and means for lifting the water from the cooling tower to the auxiliary water-distrib uting system, substantially as described.

Ll. A' countercurrent condenser having a steam inlet, a tail-pipe leading from the lower end thereof, a main cooling waterdistributing system above the steam inlet formed of a baille having a central opening therein, the baille being so arranged as to form an annular Water jacket in the condenser, means for supplying water thereto, a suction otake connected to the upper portion of the condenser, and an auxiliary cooling water system between the rst mentioned system and the suction oitake, said auxiliary system comprising a baille having a central opening through which the water passes in one direction while the steam and air pass in the reverse direction, said baille forming an annular water jacket for the y direction from another of said bnfes so as` to cause the Wat-er to fall toward the Center of the condenser when passing over one baffle and toward the wall of the condenser .when passing over lthe next baffle, a suction oitzile above seid Water-distributing system for removing the air from the con` denser, an auxiliary cooling water-distributing system between ghe first mentioned Systen11nd the suction oftzike, the auxiliary system comprising :i bale having an annular openilngn to (muse the. water to fall to# Ward the center of the condenqer when passing over Suid baffle and te coinmingle with the Water in the main system after it passes over this first baffle, and means for supplying water te the auxiliary system independently of the supply for the main s5 1t@m substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereuno se" my hand. I

ERNST Gr. HELANDER. Witnessesz L. E. TAYLOR, Jon MAHON. 

